 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Newsletter
No.68 |
|
December 2004
|
Lecture: An Invitation to Japanese Traditional Music
For our final lecture of the year, we had the special treat of Mr Yosihiko Tokumaru as our speaker accompanied by performing artist Ms Hiroe Yonekawa, a practitioner of the Ziuta and Ikuta School of s™kyoku (koto music), on Tuesday, October 26 at the Japan National Press Club, with 43 ESUJ members and foreign students attending.
Tokumaru-sensei first gave an outline of the history of h™gaku. The music, imported from Asia in the 6th century, soon had its own gagaku college with 356 pupils, which at present population levels would be more than 7000 music students. Through the conjoining of oral tradition and musical scores, the music continued to grow and evolve into the Edo period but languished following the Meiji Restoration with the precedence given to Western music and its teaching. Only recently has this tendency been reviewed, with h™gaku instruction now being compulsory in primary school. Special characteristics of the four basic instruments of h™gaku, the koto, samisen, kokyž (not a Chinese instrument) and shakuhachi were described, with Yonekawa-sensei playing musical extracts, mainly on koto playing,
As distinct from the samisen, which is mainly used for theatrical music, the koto is principally played in chamber music, and in the Edo period koto teachers were limited to blind males whose highest achievement was to become a court musician. The complete Midare rinzetu (ÔDisorderÕ) by Yatsuhashi kengy™, the father of modern koto music, was played. Later, with the introduction of Western music, the koto broadened its musical sphere. Its development up to the present was explained. The complete Tidori no kyoku (ÔSong of the ploversÕ), a representative work of by the 19th century composer Yosizawa kengy™ was played, followed by part of the 1997 work Azuma kara (ÔFrom the East of JapanÕ), composed by Mamiya Mitio. All this made for an evening in which the 'scales fell from our eyes' as JapanÕs up-to-now loved but not understood h™gaku was theoretically analyzed by Tokumaru-sensei, accompanied by Yonekawa-senseiÕs wonderful musical performance
Exploring the World of Yozo Hamaguchi: 2nd Museum Visit
On November 6, a group of 32-persons, more than the originally planned number for this fall outing, paid a most enjoyable visit to the MusŽe Hamaguchi Yozo: Yamasa Collection in Nihonbashi Kakigaracho. Yozo Hamaguchi was a world-class print maker specializing in color mezzotint technique. Upon leaving the noisy city behind and entering this cozy, intimate interior, a space opened out, its walls lined with delicate, tranquil works set in deep blackÑHamaguchiÕs own special world. The artistÕs representative work, Roofs of Paris, was on special display. Additionally, the museumÕs Ms Takahashi explained the artistÕs print-making process and let the visitors try the techniques themselves while Special Activities Committee Member Wako Onodera ably interpreted her words into English for the non-Japanese members of the group, who listened attentively. After we had viewed the works of art to our heartsÕ content, we enjoyed a delicious tea party and pleasant chat.
Luncheon: Looking at the World from a Humanitarian
Viewpoint by Mr Tadateru Konoe
Mr Tadateru Konoe, Vice-President of the Japan Red Crose on Wednesday spoke to a full house of ESUJ supporting members at the 7th Takuwakai luncheon, held on Wednesday, November 10 at the Ark Hills Club. In the 15 years since the collapse of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War, has the world situation improved or not? Has the Ôpeace dividendÕ been paid to all people, or just a few? The gap between rich and poor in the developed and underdeveloped countries continues to widen and conflict rages around the world. To these, natural disasters must be added. the only help at hand recognizing the situation are the NPOÕs and NGOÕs, which are rapidly increasing throughout the world. Noting that the Japanese tend to favor aiding those who are 'friends' rather than giving so-called humanitarian aid as necessary, sometimes even to our enemies, Mr KonoeÕs talk was full of suggestions and emphasized anew the grave problems facing the world.
English Club
On Tuesday, November 16, English Club met at the Nikkei Main Building, with Toshiyuki Inoue at the helm for the second time in MMÕs absence. Before that, Chairperson Muneo Wakabayashi led a warm-up session of practice singing for the Christmas Party. Inoue-senseiÕs theme this time was 'How to Lead Productive Business Meetings. He enumerated several key points, then showed a video produced by Toastmasters of America. The audience quickly formed pairs to practice, putting aside any fears in face of first encounters, carried away by playing the role of meeting-leader and then evaluating of each other. The session was over in no time, with Inoue-senseiÕs audience participation and practice-oriented lecture enthusiastically received.
The next meeting :Tuesday, January 18, 18:30-20:30 at the Nikkei Main Building, 11th floor. Theme will be 'How to prepare the speech.'
Coming Events
Dec.21, (Tue) ESUJ Christmas Party!
1830-20:30 @FCCJ (Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan)
Jan.25, (Tue) ESUJ Lecture ' Haiku in English'
18:30-20:00 @Kasumi Kaikan (34th Fl. Kasumigaseki Bildg.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
further informaiton contact!
E-MAIL:esuj@esuj.gr.jp
Fujikage-Building
9th Floor, Motoakasaka 1-1-5
MInato-ku, Tokyo 107-0051
TEL: 03-3423-0970 FAX: 03-3423-0971
|
|
|
|
|
|
